Dear Members of Congress- I am a mixed animal veterinary practitioner in North-central Nebraska, and I am writing to oppose H.R 1406 The Fairness to Pet Owners Act for several reasons. First of all, the bill is redundant in that clients already have the ability to pick up their prescriptions at any pharmacy of their choosing. Being required to give them a form that tells them they can do so will not in any way change the right they already have. Therefore it is a waste our government s time to focus on this bill. Second, it constitutes better care for animals and their clients if the prescribing veterinarian is also the dispensing party. The veterinarians know the animal and condition to be treated, which allows for better safety and less risk for medication reactions that can come from picking up prescriptions at several different pharmacies. This can also aid in the client s education for use of the medications, because veterinarians are more aware of the side effects of medications in animals than those in a human pharmacy such as Wal-Mart or Walgreens. Finally, the idea of this bill is to allow consumers a break from high medical bills and prices. However, our clinic has similar and sometimes even cheaper prices than Pet-Med express and Wal-Mart. If this bill passes, and more people start to buy their medications elsewhere, the prices of other veterinary services, such as surgery, anesthesia, vaccination, and examinations will have to go up. In the long run, the consumer will end up paying more for their veterinary care, and many will not be able to properly provide for their animals at all. In conclusion, I am against H. R. 1406 because it is a redundant waste of time that will cause clients to be less educated about their pet s health and cost them more money for less information and service. Thank you for your time. Sincerely, Eryn Forbes, DVM Twin Rivers Vet Clinic Columbus, NE